Self cleaning atomizing nozzle



Oct. 11, I932. FPJVCYURRAN 7 1,332,241

' SELFGLEANING ATQMfZING NOZZLE Filed Jan. 6, 1925 INVENTOR 17%Curraw ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 11, 1932- UNITED ST T S riumx J. cunnamor NEW Yonx, N. Y, Assmnon, BY mnsnn assremrnnjrs, 'r'o swam rowan, and, A conronarron or DELAWARE SELF CLEANING ATOMIZING -NOZZLE Application filed January 6, 5.926. Serial No. 79,581.

This invention relates to atomizers for fluids. More particularly, the invention relates to atomizing means for liquids under pressure for use in oil furnaces and the like.

5The invention relates further to mechanism for maintaining the nozzle in atomizing de- Vices, clean and free from obstructing deposits.

Generally speaking, the inventionv consists in the provision of an atomizer having the general formation of a tube in which there is positioned at one end a plurality of ducts, the passageway or communication from the interior of the tube being periodically obstructed by the rotation of a cylindrical member within the tube, said cylindrical member having a plurality of spiral grooves on its surface, whereby rotation is imparted to said cylindrical member by the movement of fluid along said grooves. The invention also contemplates the utilization of an auxiliary mixing chamber exterior to the end passageways, and a single aperture nozzle communicating with said passage.

An important object of the invention therefore is the provision, in an atomizer, of a cylindrical member which isPQtB-ted by the movement of fluids 'throughr-the atomizer and which, by its rotation, periodically interrupts the movement-of the fluid to the atomizer and thereby serves to break up the fluid and separate the same into minute particles. Another object of the invention is to provide means in a rotatable member positioned within a tubular casing, having a pluralitypf displaced ducts in one end of the casing which serve to maintain the passage of said ducts clear, and thus maintain the efliciency of the atomizing apparatus. Other'-- 40 objects of the invention are contemplated in i the provision of plural atomizing or mixing agencies in a single apparatus, said agencies having different modes of securing the breaking upof the fluid; in meansfor varying the volume of atomized fluids emitted by said .-.atomizer, and in the provision of means for automatically adjusting for wear in a rotatable member within the atomizer casing.

in consideration of the following specifica- 'trating the ducts therein; and

[Various other objects will become apparent tion, bringing out detailsof construction and methods of manufacture, and on inspection of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 isa longitudinal sectionof the atomizer showing the rotatable member and the nozzle construction;

Fig. 2 is an end view showing the nozzle of the atomizer;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; I

Fig. 4 is a detailed view of the notched end gt the spiral grooves of the rotatable memer; v

Fig. 5 is an end view of the casing i11us-- Fig. 6 is a side view of the the atomizer partly in sections showing-the ducts or passageways for thefluid.

Referring more particularly to Figure 1 of the drawing, there is shown, by way of example, an atomizing unit which may be useful' as atomizing means for heavy hydroclosed end of carbons in household heating furnaces or analogous uses. The atomizer unit 10 is attached to a supporting plate 11 by. interengaging threads formed on thej'surface of the casing .12 of the atomizing unit. The casing-12 is in general, of cylindrical or tubular form, one end 13 of the-same being open, and the other end being closed there being a block 14 integral with the end of the casing or supporting tube-12 to prevent the passage of liquids or fluids therethrough, except as hereinafter provided. The closed end is preferably provided with a plurality of ductsor passageways 15 (see Figure 1 and Figure 5) these passageways being distributed about the axis of the casing in approximately parallel relation to said axis, and 1 ing approximately in a circle concentric with the axis of rotation of the rotatable member Within the casing, in accordance with the pressure exerted by the passage of fluids through the spiral grooves 21, above referred to.

Preferably the cylindrical member 20 is mounted for-axial rotation upon a ball bea'ring 22, the same being mounted in recesses 23 and 24, the recess 23 being cut in the interior end of the block 14 at the end of the casing,and the corresponding recess 24 being formed in the adjacent end of the cylindrical member 20. The block 14 is made preferably of brass, and the rotor member 20 of steel. The end of the cylindrical rotor 20 of a pin 30 which is transversely positioned across the cavity within thecasmg 12, in apertures 31, and 32 formed in the casing wall. The pin is removable but is normally held. in position in the casing wall at the end of the rotatable member 20 by means of a coupling 33. l

This coupling has screw-threaded engagementwith the end of the casing in such manner as to enclose or encase that portion of the casing or tube which contains the pin 30, and thus prevent removal of the pin, ex-

cept subsequently to the removal of the cou-' pling 33. The coupling 33 has screw-threads at one end whereby engagement is made with a pipe line to a supply of fluid under pressure which is to be subjected to the atomizing process of the atomizer. The rotatable member 20, in relation to the pin 30 and the end block 14, is slightly movable in an axial direction, there being no necessity for a tight fit as regards the end pivotal connection of;

the rotor, since the outflow of fluids through the tube 12 and through the spiral passage of the rotatable member 20, serves to force this member to the left, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, into close proximity with the terminal block 14 in the end of the casing.

The apparatus, as herein above described, forms-a complete operative unit which may be utilized for atomizing hydro-carbon fuel, for example, in a furnace unit or similar fuel burning means. .F or many uses, however, it is desirable to add an additional member forming a. separable nozzle 40, this nozzle being in screw-threaded engagement with a coupling member 41, which in turn has screwthreaded engagement with the end of the block 14. The nozzle 40 is, because of the screw-threaded engagement with the coupling 41, removable and consequently it is possible to make use ofa number of nozzles having ducts or passageways 42 of dissimilar cross section, and thus vary the volume of fluids ejected from the atomizer or the pressure of atomization. The bore 44 of the nozzle coupling 41, is coaxially constructed in relatidn to the bore '45 which forms the connecting means to the casing 12 of the-tube 10, and bore 45 is countersunk to form an annular ledge to seat the outer end of the block 14. By this construc-. tion also a chamber or cavity 46 is formed intermediate the end of the block 14, and the countersunk portion of the bore 45 which serves as a mixing chamber in which the incoming fluid, as it passes through the outlet ports of the various ducts 15 intermixed, and the particles further broken up after their passage through the current "interruptlng mechanism herelnabove described. After the mixing operation in the chamber 46, the fluid passes out of the nozzle duct 42 into the interior of the furnace or other chamber to which the atomizer is applied.

' Operation The operation of the atomizer m ay be briefly indicated at: this point. The fluid, such as for example, a hydrocarbon oil is connected under pressure to the coupler 33 pass through the spiralv and permitted to grooves 21 formed on the surface of the rotatable member 20 within the interior of the is thoroughly atomizer casing 12. The movement of this fluid under pressure causes a rotation of the rotor'20 in a direction dependent on the direction of the grooves, and consequently-there is an intermittent valvular action in relation to the; inlet ports of the various individual ducts 15 in the closed end of the casing. The starting and stopping of each' fluid stream as 7 passes from a given spiral groove into a given duct 15 is instantaneous due to the fact that each groove at the end is out in an axial direction, to form a notch 21a, the rotating member thus presenting at the-endthereof adjacent the inlet portion of the ducts, cutting edges formed by plane surfaces each lying approximately in a plane passing through the axis of the rotor. This intermittent making and breaking of the fluid currents passing through the various individual ducts, serves to break up the fluid here as: sumed to be a hydrocarbon, into a plurality of jets, and inasmuch as the rotor rotates "witha relatively rapid speed, a thorough breaking up of the liquid is secured. The atomizer, as described, may be successfully employed without the end nozzle for various purposes. The end nozzle-with its single outsiderable importance. In the first place, it

should be reiterated that the steel rotor head in engagement with the brass head 14 insures a continuous connection between the two members, irrespective of the amount of wear This is of which the device may receive.

\ considerable advantage in atomizers of the present? type, inasmuch as the proximity of. Y

the rotor and the nozzle head insures a clear passageway for the fluid. It has been found that without this-rotatable member, the passage ducts clog, and the whole device becomes ineflicient or entirely inoperable. 1

Another feature is the util ty with which the atomizer may be employed for fluid under diverse pressures. The atomizer has been successively used under a pressure of 200 pounds per square inch, and also at low pressures just sufficient to cause rotation of the r0tor.: A further important advantage of my invention resides in the ease in which the nozzlesmay be changed to accommodate changes in density or viscosity of the fluid. Spiral-rotatable passageways are desirable, as it is easier in this way to atomize the fluid, and this atomization withsuch passageways tends to vary with, the pressure changes; the rotor arrangement, furthermore, facilitates the use of ducts of small crosssection which are very desirable in pressure control p K It will be apparentito those skilled in the art that modifications of the invention hereinshown and described may be made, and it is desired therefore to" protect the invention broadly as well as specifically, as indicated by the claims hereto appended. 7 I claim:

1. A burner nozzle comprising a casing having a series of passageways at one end thereof and a cylindrical chamber therein communicating with the said passageways, a rotatable member in the said chamber having a series of inclined openings therein adapted to communicate with the said passageways,

and so inclined and positioned that when aliquid-containing fuel is passed through the said openings the said memberwill be ro tated, producing intermittent free communi-. cation of the said openings with the said passageways, and pulsationof the said fuel through said passageways.

2. 'A burner nozzle for fluids under pressure eomprisinga tube, a block at one end of said tube having a plurality of passageways from the interior to the exterior of the tube, and a cylindrical rotatable member positioned within the tube and in close proximity" to the passageways, adapted to intercept intermittently the movement of fluid through said passageways, said rotatable member be- .sure consisting of a, tube open atone end; a.

block positioned at the other end of the tube;

a plurality of ducts in said blcckexten'dirig,

from the interior to the exterior of the tube; and a cylindrical rotatable member mounted within said tube, one .end of said cylindrical member having radial portions positioned to form'intermittent obstructors for the inner ends of the ducts when the said cylindrical member is rotated, said cylindrical member being of a form so as to be rotated solely by the passage of-fluid through the tube.

4. A burner nozzle for fuel liquids under pressure consisting of a tube open at one end, a block positioned at the other end of the tube, a plurality of ducts'in said block extending from the interior to the exterior of the the interior of the casing to the, exteriorthereof, a, rotatablecylindrical member positioned within the casing, said'member having helical grooves formed on the surface thereof adapted to successively communicate with said ducts, said grooves at the end of the} cylindrical member presenting therebetween end obstructors adjacent said block adapted to intermittently obstruct said dt cts upon rotation of said member by the assage of fluid'through the casing, means .or preventing substantial axial movement of said cylinder, and a nozzle removably attached to said block and communicating with said ducts. I

6. In a burner nozzle, the combination of a casing having a hollow interior open at one end; a'pluraflity of ducts at the other end of said casing communicating from the interior of the casing to the exterior thereof; a nozzle removably attached to the erid of the casing in which said ducts are positioned, there being formed a chamber intermediate theend 4 formed thereon and terminating at one end of the member so asto form a plurality of radial notches adapted in rotation to intermittently permit free passage of liquid through said ducts; means for supporting said member so as to permit free rotation thereof; and means for preventing axial movement of said rotatable member. I

.7. In a burner nozzle, the combination of a tube closed at one end, and having a plufi rality of passageways in said closed end communicating from the exterior to the interior of the tube; a nozzle having a single passageway in communication with the end of the tube in which said passageways are formed; a cylindrical member positioned within said tube and having a plurality of spiral grooves formed thereon whereby terminal radially extending notches are formed at the end of the cylinder adjacent the inner "end of said passageways; a bearing intermediate the closed end of said tube and the adjacent end of said cylindrical member; said closed tube end and adjacent end of the cylindrical member having recesses formed therein to retain said bearing in position; and a pin positioned lengthwise across said tube at the other end of the cylindrical member to retain said member from substantial rearward movement.

8. In a burner nozzle, the combination of a tube closed at one end, and having a plurality of passageways in said closed end communicating from the exterior to the interior of the tube; a nozzle having a single passageway in communication with the end of the tube in which said passageways are formed; a cylindrical member positioned within said tube and having a plurality of spiral grooves formed thereon whereby terminal radially extending notches are formed at the end of the cylinder adjacent the inner end of said passageways; a bearinggintermediatethe closed end of said tube and the adjacent end .of said cylindrical member, said closed tube end and adjacent end of'the cylindrical member having recesses formed therein to retain said bearing in position; and a pin positioned lengthwise across said tube at the other end of the cylindrical member to retain said member from substantial rearward movement, and means for retaining said pin in position, comprising a removable coupling member screw-threaded upon said tube and adapted in threaded position to prevent axialmovement of said pin.

9. In a burner nozzle, the combination of a tube haying an approximate cylindrical for- -mation, and having one end open and a plu- Q'rality of passageways formed in the other end of the tube transversely displaced about .the

tube axis and in communication with the interior of said tube; a cylindrical member within the tube having spiral grooves cut in the surface thereof; said grooves extending to one end of said member and forming a plurality of radially extending ridges and so positioned that upoii rotation of the cylindrical member, they will intermittently obstruct communication from the spiral passageways of the cylindrical member to the passageways formed in the end of the tube; a bearing mounted in recesses formed in the ends of the cylindrical member and the closed tube end; and means for normally preventing substantial rearward movement of said cylindrical member, said cylindrical member being free to rotate about its axis within said tube.

10. In a burner nozzle, the combination of a tube having an approximate cylindrical formation, and having one end open and a plurality of passageways formed in the other end of the tube, transversely displaced about the tube-axis and in communication with the interior of said tube; a cylindrical member within the tube having spiral grooves cut in the surface thereof; said grooves extending to one end of said member and forming a plurality of radially extending ridges adapted,

on rotation of the cylindrical member, to in-v termittently obstruct communication from cesses formed in the ends of the cylindrical member and the closed tube end; means for normally preventing substantial rearward movement of said cylindrical member, said cylindrical member being free to rotate about its axis within said tube; and a nozzle having a disengageable coupling member secured to the closed endof said,tube, said nozzle having a single jet orifice and forming with the end of the closed casing a mixing chamber for the mixing of fluids passing therethrough.

11. In a burner nozzle 'a tube having a plurality of passageways at one end, a cylindrical member rotatably mounted within the tube and having a plurality of raised portions forming spiral grooves therebetween, said cylindrical member being so positioned so that said grooves may intermittently communicate with the passageways formed in the end of the tube when said cylindrical member is rotated, the end of said raised portion adjacent the passageways forming intermittent obstructions to the passageways during rotation of said cylindrical member, and means for retaining said rotatable member in position in said casing. t

12. In a burner nozzle the combination of a casing having a passageway in one end thereof, a rotatable element mounted on its surface andhaving spiral grooves thereon extending from end to end of said element, the outer diameter of said element being approximately equal to that of the inner diameter of the casing whereby a movable constricted passageway through the casing is provided by the spiral grooves on the rotatable element, and a m'embenhaving a plurality of openings for the fluid disposed adjacent the discharge end of the casing, the end of said rotatable element being positioned in close relation to said member, said openings being positioned in the path of rotation of said spiral grooves.

13. In a burner-nozzle the combination of a casing; a nozzle formed on one end of sald casing providing a mixing chamber intermediate said nozzle and casing; a member having a plurality of openings disposed interme diate said mixing chambe and easing through which the fluid is di charged into said mixing chamber; a rotatable cylindrical element mounted within saidcasing, the diameter of said element being approximately that of the innerdiameter of said casing, said rotatable element having a spiral groove formed 'in the surface thereof intermediate 4 its ends whereby movement of the fluid along said spiral groove causes rotation of said r otatable element, and the openings in said member being in the path of the rotation of the discharge end of said groove whereby free flow of the fluid through said opening is intermittently obstructed by the rotation of said element.

14. In a burner nozzle, the combination of a cylindrical tube having a jet orifice at one end; a cylindrical element rotatably mounted within said tube having a tangential groove cut in the'surface of said rotatable element intermediate its ends and inclined to the axis of said rotatable element, whereby a movement of fluids through said casing causes ro-. tation of said rotatable element and an intervening member disposed between the jet;

and the cylindrical element provided with a plurality of openings for the purppse of establishing communication between the jet and the grooves in the cylindrical element, said openings being adjacent the end of said tangential groove whereby the free path of fluid through said opening is intermittentlyobstructed.

15. In a burner nozzle, the combination of means for supplying a fluid under pressure, a member having at least one aperture through which the compressedfluid is caused to discharge, and an element adapted to be rotated including means in close relation with the apertured member and on the pressure side thereof and adapted to intermittently obstruct said aperture, and said rotatable ele-' ment also including means for causing rotation of the element when fluid under pressure passes through an aperture in said member. 7

16. In a burner nozzle the combination of a casing open at one end and having a block at the other end, said block having ducts po'si-- tioned thereon and communicating from the interior of the casing to the exterior thereof, a rotatable cylindrical member positioned within the casing, said member having helical grooves formed on the surface thereonadapted to successively communicate with said ducts, said grooves at the end of the cylindrical member presenting therebetween' able cylindrical member positioned Within said casing, said member having spiral grooves formed thereon and terminating at one end of the member so as to form ap1u-- rality of radial notches adapted upon rota- .tion to intermittently permit free passage of liquid through said ducts, means for supporting said member so as to permit free rotation thereof, and means ,for preventing axial movement of said rotatable member.

18. In a burner nozzle, the combination of j a tube closed at one end, and having a plurality of passageways in said closed end com.- municating from the exterior to the interior of the tubeya cylindrical member positioned within said tube and having a plurality of spiral grooves formed-thereon whereby terminal radially extending notches are formed at the end of the cylinder adjacent the inner end of said passageways and which intermit- 1 tently obstruct said passageways when said cylindrical member is rotated, a bearing intermediate the closed end of said tube and the. adjacent end of said cylindrical member, said closed tube end and adjacent end of the cylindrical member having recesses formed therein to retain said bearingin position, and a pin positioned lengthwise across said tube at the other end of the cylindrical member to retain said member from war movement.

19.;[gn a burner nozzle, the combination of a tube having an approximate cylindrical formation, and having one end open and a plurality of passageways formed in the other end of the tube transversely displaced about substantial rearthe tube axis and in communication with the interior of said tube, a cylindrical member within thetube having spiral grooves cut in the surface thereof,said grooves extending to one end-of said member, and forming a plurality of radially extending ridges adapted on rotation of the cylindrical member to intermittently obstruct communication from the spiral passageways of the cylindrical member to the passageways formed in the end of the tube fa bearing mounted in recesses formed in the ends of the cylindfical member and the closed tube end, and means for normally preventing substantial rearward move- Vment of said cylindrical member, said cylindrical member being free to rotate about its axis within said tube. f

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

FRANK J. CURRAN. 

